Two significantly different prototypes of India’s SLYBIRD hand-launched mini-UAV during initial flights. The drone was revealed at Aero India earlier this month (and first here on Livefist). The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), developer of the drone, says, “The 2-kg class mini-UAV is currently under development. The requirement is to fly with an endurance of 1 hour, a range of 10-km for both telemetry data/video imagery, and an altitude of 300 m above ground level (service ceiling of 15,000 ft). Initial flights of the mini-UAV are complete. The integration of an indigenous autopilot and daylight camera/IR camera is under progress.”
To my amateur eyes, both seem like two different birds. A portable surveillance bird is quite a handy tool for troops on the move…
anon, that is why shiv has said in the first line of the post "two significantly different prototypes". read before commenting.
Good initiative-this will be of high tactical use for front-line troops.
At the same time, these are great baby steps to develop NAL/DRDO competency in UAV technology. Will enable us to develop better UAV's in the future.
Tats
It is expected to be excellent against terrorist operations, CBT and for forward search parties etc.
Meanwhile the UAVs developed by IITians and private sector remain untouched at exhibitions. AK Antony's shining red scalp will sack any defence personnel who suggest we look at some source beyond DRDO labs.
Congrats to NAL anyway. Now get it inducted instead of testing continuously like Nishant.
specs are a total copy of rq11-raven. I think iaf copies asr from internet. Btw raven costs more tham a safari car.
Very much needed for Army…I warmly congratulate our scientists who developed it…It will surely do magic during combat situation..Also we need much advanced technologies in it…
Hey shiv a private company in Bangalore Aurora backed by Tata's have made many types of M-UAV plse get some info on their performance as compared to this one.
The pictures do very much look like two different birds!
Chintan: read the first line of my post.
D-uh! Two significantly different prototypes 🙂 Thanks for pointing that out.
Chintan: Your welcome. You need it, brother.
WHOSE THE FLYER TESTING THE FLIGHT WHATS HIS DESIGNATION IS……????